Musical-instrument case



Marh 4, 1930. w, JANSSEN 1,749,585

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT CASE Filed May 1, 1928 Patented Mar. 4, 1930 WEBSTER E. JANSSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL-INSTRUMENT CASE Application filed May 1, 1928.

My invention relates to cases for musical instruments, such as pianos, organs, or like musical instruments having the usual playing actions, and more particularly relates to 5 improved upright piano cases which will also embody the customary equipment and attachments for a writing desk or secretary into which the piano case may be readily converted when desired.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, to provide a new and improved musical instrument case of this combined interchangeable type especially for an upright piano in which case the various parts customarily embodied in the piano as well as in the collapsible writing desk are conveniently and compactly arranged within the usual contour of the ordinary writing desk so that such improved piano case may be easily transformed from a writing desk to a piano case in open position for manual playing, and vice versa, with a minimum movement and coaction of the interrelated parts and mechanisms which are so disposed within the case as not to be likely to get out of position while serving to hold the interchangeable attachments firmly in their required places while the parts not in use are afi'ectively concealed from'view. A further feature is to provide an improved adjustable music-rack when in folded position which, however, may

be unfolded and swung into horizontal position over the piano keys to produce the flat desk top when the case is converted to a writing desk; also to provide in the lower part of the case a series of slidable desk drawers which may be advanced or retracted as a unit, such drawer unit when advanced to the front of the case covering or concealing the piano pedals.

Further objects and advantages of my improved musical instrument case will be hereinafter set forth, and the drawings show a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to an upright piano in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upright piano case in position for manual playing with the pedals exposed and the desk drawers retracted;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section with the music Serial No. 274,204.

rack unfolded in extended position to form the desk top for writing and the pedals concealed by the extended desk drawers;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the pivotal mounting for the music rack; and

Fig. .L is a detail sectional view of such mounting shown in Fig. 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the piano case proper comprises the side pieces 5 supported on the feet 6 between which project the pedals 7 The keyboard 8 is arranged between the side pieces 5 and extends below the operating keys hereinafter described; the top 10 of the writing desk having the usual compartments and shelves 11 for books 12 rests on the back plate 14 between the side pieces 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The piano action shown in Fig. 2 is of the customary construction for upright pianos, and comprises the back plate 14, the strings or wires 15 (only one being shown) and the hammer 16. The hammer 16 is actuated from the wippen 17 with connecting mechanism from the bar 18, the lower end of which rests on the inner end of the piano keys 19 held on the balance rail 20 by the balance pin 21. The rest rail 22 holds the hammer 16 in its normal retractive position as shown. The cross-bar 23 extends horizontally below the front edge of the piano keys 19 and is fastened to the key-board 8, and the key slip 24 is hinged to the cross-bar 23 to swing upwardly as shown in Fig. 2.

The foldable desk top providing a writing surface comprises the flat inner member 25 and the flat outer member 26 extending laterally the width of the case between the side pieces 5 and such members 25 and 26 are hinged together at their abutting edges (Fig. 2). Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the inner member 25 carries the projecting pins 26 (only one being shown) which engage elongated slots 27 cut in side pieces 5, such pins 26* forming the axis upon which the .ier member 25 is raised or lowered when desired. The inner member 25 is provided with the music slip 28 extending laterally on the outer and under side of the inner member as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By this device the oblique position of the desk top members 25 and 26 when folded in mutual parallelism may be varied at will as the pins 26' are advanced or retracted through the slots 27. When folded and in vertical position (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2), this foldable music rack covers and conceals the upper desk compartment 29 comprising the pigeon holes 30 and subjacent drawers 31, such compartment being supported on the cross-bar 32 fastened between the side pieces 5 as shown in Fig. 2. By this construction this upper desk compartment unit may be readily removed from the piano case whenever any repairs or tuning of the piano action become necessary, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the lower desk unit is arranged beneath the key-board 8 and comprises the frame 33 having the shelves 34, back 35 and bottom 36 extending the width of the piano case between the side pieces 5. Such unit is provided with a series of drawers 37 (three being shown in these figures), and suitably secured to the sidepieces 5 are two horizontal tracks 38 upon which this lower desk unit is advanced or retracted at will. Hinged to the front of the bottom 36 is the apron 39 which, when lowered (Fig. 2) with the desk drawers 37 in their front position, covers or conceals the pedals 7 pivoted to the brackets 40 and connected by the rods 41 to the piano action (only one set bein shown in Fig. 2). When the apron 39 is fo ded inwardly as shown in Fig. 1 and the lower desk unit is pushed back within the case, the pedals 7 are exposed and in readiness for manual playing of the piano.

The operation of my improved piano case construction is apparent from the drawings. Figs. 1 and 3 show the position of the various parts and mechanisms when the case has been opened and is in readiness for manual playing. The two piece foldable music rack comprising the inner member 25 and outer member 26 is folded together to form such inclined music rack which is tilted to its more oblique position to support the music on the music slip 28 (Fig. 1) with the pins 26 in the forward ends of the slots 27 and the key slip 24 in lowered position. This music rack folded unit also covers and conceals the upper desk compartment 29 as shown, and the pushed-back lower desk drawer unit exposes the pedals 7 as hereinbefore described.

On the other hand this two-piece music rack may readily be converted to a flat desk top for writing as shown in Fig. 2 when the inner member 25 is swung forwardly to its horizontal position with its forward edge resting upon the raised key slip 24 and the outer member 26 swung through an arc of approximately 180 degrees until it assumes the full line position shown in Fi 2. These members 25 and 26 then form a ut desk top over the keys l9 and the upper desk compartment 29 is exposed while the lower desk drawers 37 are advanced and the apron 39 is in its vertical position to cover and conceal the pedals 7, thereby transforming the piano case construction shown in F ig.' 1 lnto a writing desk or secretary in which all the musical instrument parts and mechanisms are effectively covered and concealed.

The advantages of my improved musical instrument case will be readily appreciated in providing a compact and readily convertible case with interchangeable parts to form a writing desk that will occupy a minimum space or area in the room of a house or apartment. Many details may be varied through a wide range in assembling the parts without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front, and a writing-desk top foldable and slidingly pivoted within the case to cover said playing action compartment but exposing said opening when said desk-top is folded.

2. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front, and a writingdesk top foldable and adjustably pivoted within the case to cover said playing action compartment but exposing said opening when said desk-top is folded.

3. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front, and a two piece hinged writing desk top foldable and slidingly pivoted within the case to form a music rack, exposing said opening when said desk-top is folded, but horizontally extensible from the case when unfolded to form a flat desk top covering said opening.

4. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front and swingin key slip, and a two piece hinged writing des top foldable and slidingly pivoted within the case to form a music rack exposing said opening when said desk-top is folded, but horizontally extensible from the case when unfolded to form a flat desk top supported upon said key slip in the raised position of the latter covering said opening.

5. A musical instrument case comprising a laying action compartment having an openmg toward the front with operating keys extending forwardly in said opening, a key slip hinged to the case in front of the keys, a writing desk top foldable and pivoted within the case to form a music rack and expose said opening and keys but extensible from the case when unfolded and supported upon the upraised key slip to form afiat desk top covering said opening.

6. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front, a Writing desk compartment of pigeon holes and drawers formed as a unit attached to said case in front of said playing action compartment over said opening and a foldable two piece writing desk top slidingly pivoted in front of said compartment unit to form a music rack concealing said unit, but exposing said opening.

7. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front, a writing desk compartment of pigeon holes and drawers formed as a unit removably attached to said case in front of said playing action compartment over said opening, and a foldable two piece writing desk top slidingly pivoted in front of said compartment unit to form a music rack concealing said unit, but exposing said opening.

8. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front, a writing desk compartment of pigeon holes and drawers formed as a unit attached to said case in front of said playing action compartment over said opening, a foldable two piece writing desk top slidingly pivoted in front of said compartment unit to form a music rack concealing said unit, but exposing said opening, and means for supporting said music rack in different oblique positions.

9. A musical instrument case having an operating pedals compartment opening toward the front, and a horizontally slidable drawer compartment located over the pedals compartment to cover said pedals when said drawer compartment is in advanced position, but exposing the pedals compartment opening when retracted within the case.

10. A musical instrument case having an operating pedals compartment opening toward the front, a horizontally slidable drawer compartment arranged within said case over said pedals compartment, and a swinging apron depending from said drawer compartment when in advanced position to cover said pedals compartment opening.

11. A musical instrument case having an operating pedals compartment opening toward the front, a horizontally slidable drawer compartment arranged within said case over said pedals compartment, and a swinging apron depending from said drawer compart- ,ment when in advanced position to cover said pedals compartment opening, but exposing the pedals when raised and retracted along with said drawer compartment within said case.

12. A musical instrument case having a 65 two piece hinged music rack when folded together, means pivotally mounting said rack in said case in adjustable oblique positions, and a swinging key slip to support said two piece music rack when unfolded and horizontally extensible to provide a flat writingdesk top projecting from said case.

13. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment with an opening toward the front to contain the operating keys, a separate pedals compartment in the bottom of the case, a key slip hinged to said case in front of the keys, a two-piece hinged writing desk top foldable and pivoted within the case to form a music rack above the exposed keys, but extensible from the case When unfolded and supported upon the key slip in raised position to form a fiat desk top covering said playing action compartment opening, and a horizontally slidable drawer compartment arranged below said playing action compartment opening and above said pedals compartment, provided with a depending apron to cover said pedals when said drawer compartment is in its advanced position within the case.

14. A combined musical instrument case and writing desk having a playing action compartment at the back with an opening extending toward the front, and a writing-desk top foldable and slidingly pivoted within the case in front of said playing action compartment, said top in folded position exposing said compartment opening, but in unfolded position covering said compartment and opening to form a flat desk top in the front of said case.

WEBSTER E. JANSSEN. 

